Pondering Tony Gonzalez' Career

IISaintII, I just can't agree with those sentiments. Tony Gonzalez is without question the best tight end to ever play the game, and he cemented that status as a Chief. He's better than many wide receivers and he's also an accomplished blocker.

Tight ends are actually pretty important. They catch, run, and block. They create mismatches and confusion in the passing game. Tight ends add an important dimension to offenses, and great ones are hard to come by.

What is it that makes him a "dickhead"? Wanting the chance to cap off his Hall of Fame career with at least a playoff win?

He's the greatest Chief ever to me because he's the only player in franchise history that can legitimately be considered the best at his position. He also seems like a nice, level-headed guy who takes care of his life and family admirably. He doesn't get into trouble -- ever -- and he's one of the few things that has brought positive attention to the Chiefs in quite some time. Hell, he even saves lives.

Come on man.. what more do you want?

IISaint,

Seems to me that Cassel's multi-year deal would just raise the stakes for a QB controversy if he doesn't pan out.

Regarding your TG stuff, I'm considering switching a part of my stock portfolio over to Hateraid, Inc. You are clearly the data I was looking for in order to verify that there exists a huge market for what they sell.

DD:
Bold prediction: Matt Cassel signed a multi-year deal with the Chiefs today. Still thinking QB controversy? Aside from that, I never said anything about his on the field play, it was his character and attitude at how he's approaching getting ready to play. From what everyone says, he's dedicated to being the best he can be. It seems he's doing that for his TEAM rather than himself. TG has had people waiting in line to teabag him for the last decade, and with that comes a big head. HoF'er or not, doesn't make him any less of a dick.

bbq:
"You should be ashamed of yourself for trashing perhaps the greatest Chief ever"
I said nothing bad about Len Dawson. I've met Len, he's absolutely awesome. Never got to meet Hank Stram though, but boy those guys sure were/are the best Chiefs ever. It's amazing how much people are afraid to see how petty Tony G actually is. What did he do for the community? I never really liked him as a person; as a player, hell yeah. Now that he's gone to what he thinks are greener pastures, he's not a Chief. He's lost the right to be the greatest Chief ever, not that he would have deserved that right anyway. His position isn't important enough to the TEAM to merit that reward. Helluva player and most assuredly first-ballot HoF'er... but still a dickhead to me.

CHIEFS FAN IN CT:

What did YOU not understand about me wanting to watch the Falcons so that I can root for Tony Gonzalez? I didn't say I was going to become a Falcons fan or even root for the Falcons. I said "root for HIM".

I do, however, sincerely hope that Gonzalez is successful in Atlanta. Not only do I want him to continue to play well and be valuable to his team, I would like him to have a shot at a championship (assuming it is not at the cost of the Chiefs winning one).

Sorry dude, I just don't understand how any Chiefs fan can just dismiss Tony like that. Just my opinion.

BBQ: What did you not understand about the fact that I wish Tony the best? I do appreciate what he did for KC and I admire his accomplishments. But root for the FALCONS this year????? That will be a very cold day in Atlanta when I do that.

The bottom line is that Tony is the best. He broke all of Shannon Sharpe's records in 3 less seasons than it took Sharpe to set them. He is also a very effective blocker.

I don't buy the argument that he never had any receiving help because Eddie Kennison was a consistent 1,000 yard receiver, just as Dwayne Bowe has been so far (yes, I know he only had 995 yards his rookie season, but you know what I mean).

He has also played in good offenses and bad offenses, often with plenty of help around him (Trent Green, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Dante Hall, Eddie Kennison, Dwayne Bowe). No matter what the situation of the team has been, Tony Gonzalez has been a consistently dominant presence on the Chiefs offense.

I expect Gonzalez to be a first ballot Hall of Famer, especially if he has postseason success in Atlanta. Players don't just luck into the Hall of Fame.

Double D said:

"The way I see it, the primary reason he is no longer a part of the Chiefs is because he was the accepted leader of the team and the new regime was having none of that."

I think this is pretty off. Tony was asking to be traded before this past season. Although he obviously loves Kansas City and is grateful for what the team and city have done for him, he felt like he deserved the chance to play for a contender. And, frankly, he kind of does deserve it.

Pioli and Haley are building for the future, and they made a business decision.

CHIEFS FAN IN CT said:

"I could really care less how Tony does this season. I wish him the best. But he doesn’t play for my team anymore."

Really? On the flipside of my comments to Double D, we as fans should also appreciate what Tony Gonzalez did for our team and city. I'm kind of surprised that you feel this way. Tony Gonzalez is probably my favorite football player of all time, and I for one will be watching every Falcons game I can this season so that I can root for him.

I live in Alabama, so that means I'll most likely be watching him every week.

@ IISaintII:

Tony complained a little bit during the 2007 season, yes. But the guy is the greatest tight end to ever lace up a pair of cleats, he's nearing the end of his career, and he's never even won a playoff game. This is similar to the Barry Sanders travesty. I think Tony had a right to be a little upset.

Additionally, he completely shut his mouth last season and his wishes were granted. I wish him well. You should be ashamed of yourself for trashing perhaps the greatest Chief ever -- a phenomenal player and human being.

TG will always be the best tight end hands down.I think it will have no affect on him on blocking it's what tight ends do along with catching a couple of passes.

IISaint -

Wow. I can hardly believe anybody would write what you just did.

Crybaby schmybaby. TG has always done everything for this team that was asked of him and more. He was one of the few in this organization who earned the right to voice his opinion, even moreso than Pioli or Haley frankly. Let's call a spade a spade, if Pioli and Haley had wanted TG, he would still be here, he would have suited up, and he would have played like the warrior and team leader he has always been. That card was in Pioli's hand and no one else's. Sure, Tony wanted out because he wasn't wanted, plain and simple. I would too if I were him. The best analogy I can come up with for what happened is that Tony G and the Chiefs had a good marriage right up until the Chiefs ownership/management went down the road of infidelity.

As far as Matt Cassel is concerned, you can make of the off-season hype what you want. We hear the same type of thing about certain players every year prior to the start of the season. Fact is, all we really know about Matt Cassel is that he won 11 games within an established "system" team. If you believe the Chiefs are anywhere close to being a system team at this point, you're frankly delusional. I'm guessing that Pioli is at least smart enough to recognize this given the fact that he has yet to sign Cassel to more than a one year deal. Bold prediction - unless Matt Cassel has already been knocked out by injury, the Chiefs will be in the midst of a QB controversy by the time the bye week rolls around.

Knocking TG for lack of professional dedication? For not being a contributor? For not being a team player?

Really.

Really??

Have you no shame, sir?

You know what I think of when recall TOny Gonzalez? Crybaby deserter. He wanted out. He wasn't buying into what the new people in charge were doing, so they let him find his own ticket out because ultimately, it was the best thing for both parties.

You don't want a guy bitching and moaning about how bad it is all the time around you. You want guys like Mike Goff talking you up. Guys like Branden Albert working their ass off to become the type of player that dominates their position. You want guys like Matt Cassell who study and practice and workout all the time while pushing the other players to do the same to know that EVERYONE is accountable for the TEAM. You want guys like Tony Gonzale... oh wait, no you don't. Because as he showed in his many interviews last season, he's not afraid to destroy those feelings of hope. You tell him to shut his mouth and find a destination.

To that end, thanks Tony for allowing yourself to break records with the Chiefs, only to be a deserter when the team needed professionals and high-class leaders to bring the Chiefs out of the gutter of the AFC West. Shows how much class you REALLY have.

Kudos go to Pioli only if the (late) second round pick he acquired in the trade for Tony is somebody worthwhile. One has to wonder what the popular sentiment towards Pioli will be if that pick ends being yet another major second round bust for Pioli? Especially if Gonzalez' continues to perform at a high level for next 3-4 years? Given his horrendous track record in the second round, perhaps Pioli's smartest option will be finding a way to trade that pick away?

I could really care less how Tony does this season. I wish him the best. But he doesn't play for my team anymore.

Tony is the best tight end in the NFL today, and arguably the GOAT. He was the number one receiving option for the Chiefs his entire carreer; but he was NOT a number one receiver. He was more like a number two receiver--a possession guy. Kudos to Pioli for trading him and getting something back.

In Tony G's case, too much is made of the distinction between TE and WR. Tony has been perennially one of the top receivers in the league for at least 3 reasons. One, he effectively uses his body to get open. Two, he has great hands. Three, YAC. The fact that he is a great receiver who also happens to block well makes him an extremely valuable commodity in this league. The way I see it, the primary reason he is no longer a part of the Chiefs is because he was the accepted leader of the team and the new regime was having none of that. (Exhibit B: Brian Waters). Exactly how Pioli/Haley intend to replace his production, ethic, leadership, and overall contribution this season remains to be seen. I say an even better question is how can the Chiefs possibly be considered better on offense this season than they were last season now that Tony's gone?

Thanks guys.

Tim, Did I read you correctly? You do not believe that LJ will be able to run this year? I say he does well this year. Not the same Larry , but very close to it.

We won't be in the pistol or shotgun every play this year, and Mike Goff did open some holes for LT in the past. LJ runs mad and he will this year. The only weak link at this point is probably RT McIntosh (sp?) We will see.

You know Jeremy Ive said this for awhile but hard to see a team not throwing to TONY G in his prime. Still I think he owes his stats to the fact that KC never had many options during his career. Will be fun to see his stats at the end of this year.

That's like saying if Manning or even Brady would have been on any other team they wouldn't have been the quarterback they are. We will never know.
Tony is an all out all the time player. Do you really think he would just kick back and not be the phenom he is? I know you are just trying to get some discussion on here...GOD KNOWS I MISS IT TOO!

It's true. Any other team and Gonzo would most likely not of done as well statisticly. Its the lesser of two evils. To have a winning team, you must have weapons all over the feild. Not just one. Look at dallas for example. Witten is a good tight end, but he couldnt match tonys numbers, why? Owens, Barber, Jones, Williams, ect. The more weapons you have the more you can/need to spread the ball.

To be honest, i wanted LJ traded during the offseason in which he got his contract. watching what he could do behind the great chiefs o-line was awesome. He almost set records in a year he only started 8 games. Its a shame that such a great(past or present tense) runner, has to run behind our oline and be in an offense that cant run the ball. It has happened to many could be great players. Thats the monster known as the NFL.

Meh. Keep in mind that Vermeil and Saunders also ran a WR-friendly offense. They almost never used their tight ends in St. Louis. I think Vermeil told Gonzalez he'd be blocking more. Gonzo did, and it didn't seem to affect his numbers much. If anything, it made him into a pretty decent blocker, which I think is what is going to easily separate him from Sharpe and Gates. While there might be some debate as to who is the best receiving tight end of the three (assuming Gates continues to play well), they are not nearly the kind of complete TE that Gonzalez has become.